Karen Clarke – författare

‘WOW! I absolutely loved this book and stayed up way too late to finish it!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars You trust her with your home, your husband, your baby… but she is about to destroy it all. Sophy Pemberton is struggling to cope with the pressures of becoming a new mother. Her nine-month-old son never settles in her arms and the unrelenting tiredness from late night feeds is all consuming.So, when Liv Granger from the mother and baby group offers her services as a nanny, Sophy is overcome with relief. Now she can finally get some sleep…She can stop failing at being a mother. But Liv has a secret. She didn’t become Sophy’s nanny by accident.And Sophy has no idea who she has let into her home. An utterly gripping and suspenseful novel that will have you turning the pages long into the night! Fans of The Mother-In-Law, Lies Lies Lies, and The Babysitter will love this heart-racing read. Readers LOVE The Perfect Nanny‘This book has more twists than a rollercoaster ride, so buckle up!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars‘A truly sinister thriller… Expertly put together and extremely fast paced, it plays on our deepest fears.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars‘I devoured this book in one day! I loved the premise, complex characters and the surprise ending. I can’t wait to read more books by this fantastic pair of authors!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars‘An absolute suspenseful and crazy read! Definitely going in my top reads category for this year.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars‘This is the best book I have read in years! It was full of twists and red herrings. I stayed hours past my bedtime to finish it!’ – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars‘This was a very entertaining read, I settled down with a cuppa and could not put it down.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars‘A wickedly clever page-turner.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars

‘A masterpiece… I loved it entirely!’ 5 stars, Netgalley reviewer A stranger died to save you… now it’s your turn. Meet Beth Turner.From the outside she looks like any other thirty-three-year-old woman, with a gorgeous house and beautiful daughter.But when Beth receives a threatening text message from an anonymous number on the way to her surprise birthday party, she knows her time is up. Enjoy your birthday, Beth. It’ll be your last. Beth has a secret that has haunted her past for as long as she can remember. A secret that only those closest to her know. A stranger died once… because of Beth.As she arrives at her house, there’s only one thing she knows for certain, someone at the party wants her to pay. Fans of The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler and The Wife by Shalini Boland will love Your Life for Mine! Readers LOVE Your Life for Mine“An addictive tale that had me caught up in its web, unable to break free, until the final page. The story kicks off immediately and Karen doesn’t lift her foot off the accelerator until the end.” 5 stars, Once Upon a Time Book blog“A satisfyingly chilling read with an explosive ending.” 5 stars, Vikki Patis bestselling author of Girl Lost “I couldn’t stop reading, the pages were being turned at such a speed that I read it overnight! I enjoyed all Karen Clarke’s characters, they were crafted so realistically and they could be almost real.” Sharon Beyond the Books blog“I loved this book! A tense, well paced thriller that had me completely fooled. What I liked about this novel was thinking I was one step ahead of the author the whole way through, only to have my suspicions turned on their head in the final twist.” Lesley Sanderson, bestselling author of I Know You Lied“Palpable tension ramped up another notch with every chapter… There’s no shortage of suspects in this gripping new thriller.” 5 stars, Diane Jeffrey bestselling author of The Guilty Mother

“Wow wow wow… I would highly recommend this book to everyone.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars How far would you go to keep your baby safe? Grace bundled her eight-week-old daughter into her carry cot, opened the door and ran.Her life in New York faded into the background – she needed to keep her baby safe. She needed to get as far away from Patrick as possible.Now, staying in a remote cottage in Wales, Grace is trying to start again. But she can’t shake the uneasy feeling that she’s been followed.And then she finds a note. Left on her bed. A tiny scrap of paper with scrawl in bright red pen. Keep her close. Anything could happen. She’s been found. Patrick wants his baby back.But Grace will do everything to stop him. An utterly gripping cat and mouse thriller that will keep you reading long into the night! Fans of Lisa Jewell, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth will love And Then She Ran. Readers LOVE And Then She Ran“An addictive and chilling read with a very dramatic ending. It had everything I love in a thriller and more.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars“I adored this book. Best writing I’ve ever read.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars“The tension in this book builds beautifully, leaving you on the edge of your seat barely daring to breathe at times… So well written, a real page turner. Loved it.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars“Great characterisation, perfectly paced plot and twists at exactly the right time… Karen Clarke has written a bestseller with an added grenade at the end.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars“Couldn’t put this book down. It had me gripped from the start and did not let me go.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars“This keeps you guessing all the way through.” – NetGalley Reviewer, 5 Stars

‘Wow! This book cast suspicion on so many characters that I had no idea how it would turn out! The definition of the perfect suspense novel!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I promised her I'd protect him… and I'll do anything to keep him safe.  Five years ago, my sister Rachel left her baby boy on my doorstep. A little bundle wrapped in blankets.I loved him. I cared for him. I called him Noah and raised him as my own.Rachel was full of secrets, and the truth about Noah was one we shared. A secret just between sisters.Now, my sister is dead. The police say it was an accident… But I’m convinced that’s a lie.I owe it to Rachel to uncover the truth… Even if I risk losing the family I’ve fought so hard for. Dark family secrets rise to the surface in this utterly gripping and emotional page-turner! My Sister’s Child will keep you reading long into the night and is perfect for fans of Nicole Trope and Claire Amarti! Readers LOVE My Sister’s Child!‘A brilliant psychological thriller… the twists that happen will leave you on the edge of your seat.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it… Gave me chills. Solid five.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Had me hooked right from the start… I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘An addictive and chilling read… great story, pace and development!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I was completely enthralled and the ending wow a huge twist I did not see coming at all!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Karen Clarke is an incredible writer… I had to keep reading as I needed to unravel the story further.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A tense and emotional read, with well-drawn, menacing and intriguing, characters.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Loved it!’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was invested in this book from the first page. It literally drew me in immediately and my attention never waned. Classic thriller with a dynamic main character!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ His secret could destroy them, but her truth is even harder to bear… One year ago, my husband Jack left. I’ve longed for the moment he would walk through the door and tell me all he ever wanted was to be with me.Now he’s back, but this isn’t the reunion I had dreamt of…Jack has been in a hit and run accident. He doesn’t remember we aren’t together, has no clue about his other family, and no recollection of the phone call he made before the crash – I made a terrible mistake that I can’t put right. All I can do is get out.Jack is different to the man that walked out and I’m certain he’s hiding something too.But I finally have my husband by my side, and with Jack suffering from amnesia, surely the easiest thing would be to stay quiet… But can you really trust a man who simply vanished from your life? And should he even trust me? From the bestselling author of My Sister’s Child comes a new emotional family drama about love, lies and the lengths that we will go to for the ones we love. Fans of Claire Amarti and Nicole Trope will love this gripping page-turner! Readers LOVE My Husband’s Secret!‘I was intrigued and glued to my seat until I reached the end of My Husband's Secret. Karen Clarke is a brilliant author, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Honestly a rollercoaster of a story, was not expecting to be sucked in straight away… It was a great read from the first page to the unexpected twist on the last page.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book is really well written, it is clever and original and really gripping… I was completely sucked in from the very first moment. Wonderful.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Absolutely brilliant book. Great plot and a few twists and turns along the way. I read it all one Sunday afternoon. Very gripping.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘WOW what an exciting thriller!! This book certainly kept me on my toes, so many twists and turns throughout.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ She knows her. But can she trust her? When Rose’s old friend Elise suddenly arrives on her doorstep having just escaped a controlling marriage, she offers her a place to stay.But Elise wants more than a safe refuge, she wants Rose to help her get her daughter back, so that she can truly start afresh with five-year-old Daisy safely in her arms. Every little girl needs her mother, after all.Ready to insert herself into Elise’s old home, Rose gets a job as a teacher, home-schooling Daisy.But when Rose is asked to take the little girl and bring her to Elise, she gets cold feet… Elise’s behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic, and Daisy’s father is far from the monster described… Will Rose take Daisy and return her to her mother, or is the real danger closer to home? Who should she trust? An utterly gripping novel of suspense and drama from the bestselling author of My Sister’s Child. Fans of Claire Amarti and Nicole Trope will love My Best Friend’s Secret! Readers LOVE My Best Friend’s Secret!‘I couldn’t put this book down… I never knew what to expect when I turned the page.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A suspenseful drama that I couldn't put down. It had me hooked with its many twists and turns.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Kept me reading long after I should have turned out the light.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘So gripping, a must read.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don't miss the next thrilling read from Karen Clarke, author of My Best Friend's Secret! 'Full of twists and turns' That's Life Fans of Claire Douglas and Shari Lapena will love Karen Clarke! Kate and her husband are expecting their first child. Even though it was a surprise, Kate is thrilled and so is her mother, Helen. Kate just needs Helen’s anxieties to ease and for Dan to be on board.Dan is struggling – he loves Kate, but he is not ready to be a father. With relations between them feeling hostile, the attractive lead singer in Dan’s band offers him a tantalizing escape.Two weeks before the due date, Kate heads off for an overnight stay at a guesthouse she is designing. When suddenly neither Helen nor Dan can reach her, Helen discloses a dark secret from their past. One that leaves them wondering, has something terrible happened to Kate and the baby?Readers LOVE The Mother's Secret:‘This psychological thriller will have you gripped from start to finish.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Loved the whole mind-blowing twists and turns full of ginormous secrets. Absolutely brilliant read.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What a fantastic read. Read in two sittings, just couldn't put it down.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘One of the best books I've read in a long time. So gripping, highly recommend.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This accessible book demystifies the links between theory and practice for those studying in the field of early childhood. The book encourages those new to research to develop their investigations as straightforward narrative accounts of the phenomenon that they are investigating.Throughout the book the authors demonstrate the influence of theoretical perspectives on their own practice and research. They articulate how this adds depth to their studies by linking into wider and more enduring themes.

The book is divided into two parts; part one looks at 'Community, interaction and identity' and addresses several different aspects of social constructivist theory. Each author explores, less familiar, but increasingly influential ideas emanating from Vygotskian theory.

Part two explores 'Structure, power and knowledge' which includes a wider range of theoretical perspectives, that tell a more 'critical' story about how the way society is structured, influences power, institutions and individuals. These theories help the authors to describe how working practices serve some groups and disadvantage others.

Each chapter includes:

Theoretical concepts, which are related to practice and / or research Case studies Examples from research practice enabling readers to explore the practical application of the 'big ideas' Further reading appropriate to the theoretical construct

This book is essential reading for undergraduate students and trainee teachers.Contributors: Tony Bertram, Angeliki Bitou, Liz Brooker, Sue Fawson, Rohan Jowallah, Maggie Leese, Martin Needham, Jane O’Connor, Chris Pascal, Lynn Richards, Faye Stanley, Jo Winwood, Gill Woods, Jenny Worsley - all at University of Wolverhampton except Liz Brooker, who is at the Institute of Education in London.

'Within the first page turn I was laughing out loud... It was a delight to read.' 5* Rachel's Random ReadsWhen Marnie Appleton inherited a sweet shop from her grandfather she was determined to do his legacy proud. The shop has been a much-loved feature of the little seaside town of Shipley for years, but now Marnie needs to bring it up to date, and she's recruited gorgeous new assistant Josh to help.Marnie gets busy redecorating the shop and choosing delicious new sweets to stock, but things are never that simple: new neighbour Isobel, a fame-hungry blogger, is on a crusade against sugar, and she'll go to any lengths to secure bad publicity for Marnie's shop.Marnie fights back with homemade sugar-free treats, but with her best friend Beth heavily pregnant, her grandmother Celia recovering from an operation, and her very recently ex-boyfriend Alex returning to Shipley with a new love, Marnie has a lot on her plate.And then there's Josh, with whom Marnie is struggling to keep her relationship strictly professional...Will both the sweet shop and love flourish?A deliciously heartwarming read about family, friends and handmade coconut ice. Perfect for fans of Cressida McLaughlin, Debbie Johnson, and Tilly Tennant.What people are saying about The Beachside Sweet Shop:'I do love a book that can make me giggle after just a few pages. As well as being funny, the storyline had a homely feel to it, reading it made me feel comfortable, relaxed and welcome...It's amazing how much drama one little sweet shop can create! I was captivated, and sometimes surprised, by the goings on in the little village shop...a bright read that left a smile on my face and my taste buds in need of some sweet treats.' 5* V Family Fun'I smiled all of the way through this gorgeous heart-warming read. A lot of the sweets reminded me of my childhood. The fictional Seaside town of Shipley sounds gorgeous, I almost packed my bags and started looking on TripAdvisor for a place to stay. The characters and storyline are just everything I adore in a book. I can honestly say that I felt quite sad to be saying farewell to everyone at the end.' 5* The Reading Shed'Brilliant! Such a beautiful, heart warming story! Loved every word! So well written. A magical, feel good tale. Loved, loved, loved. Highly recommend it to everyone.' Renita D'Silva'Had me chortling away...really funny...A fabulous candy cane of a read. I absolutely loved it.' 5* Short Book and Scribe

Contemporary social work cannot be understood without an appreciation of the broader context of social policy in which it takes place. Such an understanding is increasingly important as social workers are expected to work across institutional, professional and even national boundaries in new ways profoundly affected by the changing global context. This insightful book examines how shifts in the dominant political ideology have affected the nature of welfare provision, the kinds of social problems addressed by policy, and the balance of responsibilities for well-being between individuals, the family, voluntary organizations, the market and the state. It explains the impact of these developments on the organization of social work and on relationships between social workers and service users. The book discusses contested concepts central to social work – such as justice, liberty, equality, difference, need and risk – and illustrates these through a range of examples.The critical analysis provided in this book offers students of social work a crucial foundation for negotiating difficult and sensitive practice situations and defending their profession, providing them with the tools and knowledge to uphold key professional values.

Contemporary social work cannot be understood without an appreciation of the broader context of social policy in which it takes place. Such an understanding is increasingly important as social workers are expected to work across institutional, professional and even national boundaries in new ways profoundly affected by the changing global context. This insightful book examines how shifts in the dominant political ideology have affected the nature of welfare provision, the kinds of social problems addressed by policy, and the balance of responsibilities for well-being between individuals, the family, voluntary organizations, the market and the state. It explains the impact of these developments on the organization of social work and on relationships between social workers and service users. The book discusses contested concepts central to social work – such as justice, liberty, equality, difference, need and risk – and illustrates these through a range of examples.The critical analysis provided in this book offers students of social work a crucial foundation for negotiating difficult and sensitive practice situations and defending their profession, providing them with the tools and knowledge to uphold key professional values.

This book encapsulates some work done in the DIRC project concerned with trust and responsibility in socio-technical systems. It brings together a range of disciplinary approaches - computer science, sociology and software engineering - to produce a socio-technical systems perspective on the issues surrounding trust in technology in complex settings. Computer systems can only bring about their purported benefits if functionality, users and usability are central to their design and deployment. Thus, technology can only be trusted in situ and in everyday use if these issues have been brought to bear on the process of technology design, implementation and use. The studies detailed in this book analyse the ways in which trust in technology is achieved and/or worked around in everyday situations in a range of settings - including hospitals, a steelworks, a public enquiry, the financial services sector and air traffic control. Whilst many of the authors here may already be known for their ethnographic work, this book moves on from accounts of 'field studies' to show how the DIRC project has utilised the data from these studies in an interdisciplinary fashion, involving computer scientists, software engineers and psychologists, as well as sociologists. Chapters draw on the empirical studies but are organised around analytical themes related to trust which are at the heart of the authors' socio-technical approach which shows the nuanced ways in which technology is used, ignored, refined and so on in everyday settings.

Social Policy Review provides students, academics and all those interested in welfare issues with detailed analyses of progress and change in areas of major interest during the past year.Contributions reflect key developments in the UK and internationally. and focus on developments and change in core UK social policy areas. Additional chapters provide in-depth analyses of topical issues in UK and international perspective, while this year's themed section is 'New Labour'.

"Social Policy Review" provides students, academics and all those interested in welfare issues with detailed analyses of progress and change in areas of major interest during the past year.Bringing together a selection of commissioned papers, the Review is organised in three parts. First, it concentrates on the main policy developments during 2005 in relation to five key areas of welfare provision, both in the UK and internationally. The second part, this year concentrating on the theme of health and well-being, draws on current research to explore key policy issues and challenges. The final section explores employment and later life - an often neglected area of social policy, yet one that will increasingly dominate the contemporary news agenda and that has long term implications for social policy.

"Social Policy Review" provides students, academics and all those interested in welfare issues with critical analyses of progress and change in areas of major interest during the past year.Contributions reflect key themes in the UK and internationally. The first part of the collection focuses on developments and change in core UK social policy areas. Part two provides in-depth analyses of topical issues from both UK and international perspectives, while this year's themed section examines 'Migration and social policy'.